Ashoka slams Siddaramaiah govt as ‘corrupt’, claims Karnataka administration in ‘coma stage’
Bengaluru (PTI): Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R Ashoka, on Monday alleged that the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government is "immersed in corruption", adding that the administration in the state has reached a "coma stage".
He also accused the dispensation of "spreading lies" through the governor’s address.
He further alleged that the "power tussle" between Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar over the chief minister’s post has "gravely impacted" the administration in the state.
The BJP leader made these remarks while participating in the motion of thanks to the governor’s address in the Assembly.
"The Congress government led by Siddaramaiah has sacrificed the interests and prestige of the state in many matters for the sake of political prestige, the quarrel between the CM and the deputy CM, and the appeasement of the high command," Ashoka said.
He claimed that one scandal after another has come to light, development has come to a standstill, and therefore, to "divert public attention, the government is indulging in petty politics" by confronting the governor and the Centre.
"The government has tried to make the governor speak lies in his address by hiding the facts. I thank the governor for the address, but I oppose the address prepared by the government. This government is immersed in corruption. It lacks respect, and if it had any respect left, it would have taken action," Ashoka claimed.
"There is bribery everywhere. The governor’s address is full of lies. This government has no morality," he alleged.
Claiming that Siddaramaiah has lost the assertiveness and grip over the administration that he once had, the opposition leader said, "From a tiger-like attitude in the past, it has now become rat-like."
Ashoka further alleged that officials have stopped working properly amid confusion over the leadership issue. "As a result, the administration has been in a coma for the past year. It is not right to toy with leadership in this manner. It is advisable to conclude; otherwise, the deteriorating administration will not get back on track," he claimed.
He said the relationship between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar has "soured". He also took a dig at Shivakumar’s temple visits, suggesting they were aimed at securing the CM’s post at the earliest.
"This is an internal matter of your party. But since it is adversely affecting the administration, please clarify who will be the CM in the interest of the people," he added.
"Jointly announce that there will be no more such disputes and make the administration more efficient. You have made the governor deliver a false speech about this dysfunctional administration," he alleged.
In a high drama in the Karnataka Assembly, Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on January 22 refused to read the state-prepared address to a joint session of the state legislature and concluded his customary speech in just three lines, evoking a sharp reaction from the Congress government. However, the speech was deemed to have been read and was placed before the House.
The governor had refused to deliver the customary address to the Karnataka legislature, objecting to certain critical references to the Centre and its decision to "repeal" the UPA-era Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
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Air India pilot reports possible defect in Dreamliner fuel control switch
New Delhi (PTI): An Air India pilot on Monday flagged a possible defect with the fuel control switch of a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, and the matter has been reported to aviation watchdog DGCA.
The aircraft operated the flight AI132 from London to Bengaluru, and it landed at Bengaluru on Monday morning, according to sources.
In a statement, the airline said it is aware that one of its pilots has reported a possible defect on the fuel control switch of a Boeing 787-8 aircraft.
"After receiving this initial information, we have grounded the said aircraft and are involving the OEM to get the pilot's concerns checked on a priority basis. The matter has been communicated to the aviation regulator, DGCA. Air India had checked the fuel control switches on all Boeing 787 aircraft in its fleet after a directive from the DGCA, and had found no issues," the statement said.
The incident assumes significance against the backdrop of concerns in certain quarters about the functioning of the fuel control switch in the ill-fated Air India Dreamliner that crashed in June last year.
In one of the worst aircraft accidents in India, a total of 260 people, including 241 passengers, died after Air India's Boeing 787-8 aircraft operating flight AI171 to London Gatwick crashed soon after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is probing the crash.
In its preliminary report on the crash that was released on July 12 last year, AAIB said the fuel supply to both engines of the plane was cut off within a gap of one second, causing confusion in the cockpit soon after take-off.
"In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cut off. The other pilot responded that he did not do so," it had said.
